Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the classroom, casting golden beams across the floor and onto the teacher's desk. The room buzzed with low chatter until the heavy footsteps of Magnus Sir silenced it all. He stood at the front of the room—tall, stern, his eyes sharper than ever.
Leon, Isla, Finn, and Fanny sat among the students, alert and expectant.
Magnus took a deep breath, his jaw tight, eyes scanning the class. The tension in the room thickened like storm clouds.
"I know many of you participated in the training," he began, voice calm but cold. "And some of you even made it to the final round. But that's not what I'm here to talk about today."
His tone dropped, darker. With a sudden BAM!, he slammed a stack of papers onto the desk.
The sound cracked like thunder across the silent classroom.
Students jumped. A few flinched. Nervous glances were exchanged. Sweat beaded on foreheads. Even the air felt heavier.
Magnus's voice deepened.
"Except for two students—Leon and Isla—the rest of you either failed the written exam or barely passed. Some of you," he said, looking around with sharp eyes, "were just a single mark away from total failure."
A hush fell over the room. Even Finn and Fanny, usually cheerful, looked pale. Finn fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve. Fanny bit her lip, her brows drawn with worry.
"This," Magnus said, raising a paper, "is the worst score any class in this academy has ever recorded."
The words hit harder than any slap.
"So," he continued, his voice rising, "the teachers have decided. In the final exam, anyone who scores below fifty out of one hundred will fail. And if you fail—"
He paused. The weight of his next words lingered in the air.
"—you will be expelled from the academy."
Gasps. Wide eyes. Panic flickered on faces. A few students whispered in disbelief, but no one dared raise their voice—until one did.
A boy stood up shakily. "Sir, that's not fair. The passing mark is thirty. You can't just change the rules. You're just a teacher, not the principal!"
A murmur of support rose around him.
But Magnus didn't flinch. He stared directly at the boy, his expression unreadable. Then he spoke, voice low and laced with authority.
"Your name is Yin Suzuki. Right?"
The boy froze.
"You scored twenty-three out of a hundred." Magnus's eyes narrowed. "And you're questioning me?"
Yin's mouth opened, but no sound came out. His legs trembled. He slowly sank back into his seat, unable to meet Magnus's gaze.
"If I wanted," Magnus said, eyes burning, "I could expel you right now. But consider this a mercy. A final chance. Don't waste it."
The classroom was graveyard-silent.
"And if any of you are still confused about authority…" Magnus paused, scanning the students. "In this academy, I have the highest authority. If you have complaints—meet me in my office."
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving the door swinging behind him.
As soon as he left, the class exploded with nervous whispers.
Finn looked completely drained. He turned to Leon with teary eyes and hugged him tightly. "Bro… you're my last hope. I can't get expelled…"
Leon choked slightly under the grip. "If you kill me with your hug, how am I supposed to help you?" he gasped.
Finn quickly let go, chuckling nervously. "Sorry, bro. I'm just… freaking out. What the hell are we gonna do?"
Across the room, Fanny slammed her hand on the desk.
"Who gave him the right to expel students? He's just a teacher!" she growled, voice filled with frustration.
Isla, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"You guys really don't know, do you?"
Leon, Finn, and Fanny turned toward her, confused.
"What do you mean?" Leon asked, his brows furrowed.
Isla looked around cautiously before lowering her voice. "Have you ever seen the principal of this academy?"
Leon shook his head. "Now that you mention it… no. Sometimes I even wonder who the principal is."
Finn nodded. "Yeah, even during the Awakening Ceremony—that huge accident happened—and still, no sign of a principal."
Fanny muttered, "Now that I think about it, Magnus Sir handles everything…"
"Exactly," Isla said. "That's because Magnus Sir is the principal's son."
Their jaws dropped.
"What?" Leon whispered, eyes wide.
"Seriously?" Finn asked.
"Yes," Isla confirmed. "They don't tell students personal stuff like that. They keep it private."
Leon leaned in. "But if his father is the principal… why don't we ever see him?"
Isla hesitated. "I'm not entirely sure. But I've heard… something tragic happened to him about five years ago. Since then, he hasn't met a single person. Not even Magnus Sir."
"What?" Fanny asked, stunned. "They haven't met in five years?"
Isla nodded. "After the incident, the principal just… disappeared. No one knows where he is. Not even his own son."
The room seemed colder after her words. The mystery hung in the air like fog.
Finn whispered, "If he's the principal, he must be powerful…"
Isla shrugged. "Maybe. But no one knows what kind of power he had—or has."
Suddenly, a loud announcement crackled through the speakers:
"Fanny and Finn—report to Magnus Sir's office immediately."
Finn's face turned ghost white. "Wh-What?! Why does he want us? Is he going to… expel us?!"
Tears welled up in his eyes as he turned to Leon and hugged him again. "Help me, buddy. I don't wanna be expelled…"